Two dogs that had to leap from an apartment balcony Monday evening, to save themselves from a fire, are undergoing burn treatment at McMinnville Veterinary Hospital. However, the expense of treating their extensive burns is more than their newly-destitute owners can afford, and the veterinary hospital, which is currently donating much of the cost of medications and staff time, is asking for help from the public.

The cost could run into the thousands of dollars, according to veterinarian Aaron Sears.

The clinic has set up a donation fund at Chase Bank, under the account name "McMinnville animal welfare." Donors may specify that they are donating for care of Simba and Brandy.

The dogs, adult pit bull mixes, suffered extensive burns, some of them severe, Sears said. After jumping from the balcony, Sears said, they ran away in fear, and were later picked up by Dog Control, which brought them to the clinic after hours.

Simba, the male, is up and walking, although in pain, Sears said, but Brandy, the female, has burns over about 30 percent of her body, and is not yet mobile. Sears said he expects both dogs to make a complete recovery, but said they will first need extensive, and very expensive, care, that could go on for weeks.

In the event that donations exceed the cost of care for the two, Sears said, any excess would go toward other needy cases.

“I work with Dog Control quite a bit,” in cases where animals need care after abuse or neglect, he said.

Sears said that, fortunately, both dogs were wearing identification tags, that enabled him to quickly locate their owners.